Sermon I Saw Jesus Part 1 [7/2021]
Everyone is called to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
+ Everyone is called to share the Gospel somehow.
For most of us – we share the gospel by our good behaviors. We are kind || patient || loving || generous.
This is a wonderful way to share God's love for the world.
^ We are not rude || hateful || selfish B/c that would send the Opposite Message of God's love for Us, His Creation.
= We are all called to sing the praises of God! {Psalm 9} We All should be able to say: “God has done wonderful things for me!” We – as a group – have sons & daughters - & husbands & wives - & brothers & sisters – Grandmothers & Grandfathers & Children & Wonderful friends & many wholesome relationships God Sends out way. < It is impossible to be disconnected in this life. + God did not build Us || Life that way. ^ We are All connected in one way or the other & we can All Sing God's Praises for the Love & Bounty He sends into our lives.
= We should articulate what this bounty is to one another B/c God is glorified in All of these things & more & more love for God spreads across the Earth.
= As we All gather in church this morning I hope we All can be grateful to God for this gift called Life & the promise that it will never end. = We will always always - always be alive! = Blessed be God forever.
As we go thru our lives & Sing God's Praises for the Wonderful things He has done for us, I hope we have enough courage to give Jesus the credit every now & then. + Again, This is how we spread the Good News of God's love for the world across our families & across this town. ^ I honestly don't think that everyone is called to be a preacher # But I do believe everyone is called to identify as a Christian in some way. & - So – we might share with our friends that we are committed to going to church on Sunday Morning. Or, We might hang a cross of silver or gold around our neck to signify that we belong to Christ. > We might have a bumper sticker on our car Or, We might wear a T-Shirt with a Scripture on it.
= Thus, I do hope that as we live our lives in the world – as God intended – that we do identify as belonging to JC in some way. = I believe Jesus Rejoices when we identify ourselves as belonging to Him.
= We heard In Todays Gospel Vs 8: “I can guarantee that the Son of Man will acknowledge in front of God’s angels every person who acknowledges him in front of others.”
+ So God's wants us to be identified as Christian in this world.
We are called to tell God's praises before others! Psalm 9: 1-2 I will give you thanks, O LORD, with all my heart. I will tell about all the miracles you have done.
I will find joy and be glad about you. I will make music to praise your name, O Most High.
= God's Word indicates that we should tell of the wonderful things that God has done. >< Not Secret!!!
> I mentioned Relationships Earlier but I think we all have likely had many blessings: good schools, or employment, houses & cars & a little money in the bank. < We have food in the refrigerator & clothes on our back. Electricity & Hot Water in our houses. > I was talking with a friend last week & she said she had to use an Outhouse until she was 13 years old! + I was like: What happened if you had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night? Did you use the Outhouse? Yup! + What happened if it was winter time? Yup! Out to the Outhouse! Lord have mercy! I never had to do that! ^ I grew up with electricity & hot water & indoor plumbing So we All can be grateful to God for something! Amen?
= We should be grateful for many things! # But, we all can be grateful for something! God is good!
We have Spiritual Gifts we should be grateful for as well. Whether it is a Relational Gift or a Material Gift or a Spiritual Gift. We should be sharing God's: Generosity || Faithfulness || Goodness with others. ^ Speaking God's Praises spreads the Good News of Jesus & can spark the Gift of Faith in the people around us.
= God wants us to tell of His Wonderous deeds in our lives! = Blessed be God Forever.
About 40 Years Ago I had a beautiful vision of Jesus in my spirit. The Holy Spirit gave me this vision to strengthen the faith of other people. I saw Jesus full of grace. John 1:14 says that Jesus is full of grace & truth. = So, this vision is consistent with Holy Scripture. > Seeing Jesus full of grace has helped me tremendously over the last 4 decades. < No matter what is going on in my life He is always there filled with Grace & Truth. + Whether I feel happy & things are going extremely well. Or Whether I feel frustrated & disappointed. Or maybe even heartbroken He is always there. * I always know that one day I will stand before Him & give an accounting of my life.
It is Not: Maybe I'll see Jesus at the end of my life. It is Not: I Hope to see Jesus at the end of my life. > I can tell you: WE will see Jesus when He calls us out of our graves & we will give an accounting of our lives.
= I know this to be true B/c I have Seen & Experienced Him. = God's Word Is Truth. + A person can't just manufacture this type of vision that I had. ^ The Imagination cannot create the Experience I had.
= This was a very powerful vision. It Was Clear || Vibrant || Full of Revelation consistent with God's Word. By that I mean I saw & understood that Jesus is Full of Grace. Jesus is filled with grace. Jesus does not Do evil. Jesus cannot Be evil. Jesus does no wrong.
Jesus does not make mistakes. Grace is never wrong! Jesus is perfect. Jesus is perfectly loving. He is beauty in motion! To say Jesus is Graceful would be an understatement = I believe Jesus is Grace Itself. = This is our Creator God. He will never do you wrong. He will never lead you in the wrong direction. He will never say anything that isn't true. He only has an Overwhelming || Compassionate || Merciful love for you! That is all He has. That is all He Is.
= Problems come when we do not Receive || Want || Listen || & Reject that Grace. Jesus Is Full of Grace for you!
Knowing this about Jesus has helped me greatly in my life + Everything I'm going thru is Secondary to Who He is as Our Creator & Redeemer & Savior. So: I'll be honest. I was feeling very happy in 2014 & 2015 & 2016 & I think I felt Inspired to talk a little bit about how happy I was feeling in those years # But that's hard to do as a pastor sometimes B/c it seems like there is always someone who is sick in the church. Or there is always someone in Hospice Care. Or there is always a Saint that has recently gone on to glory & you know that family is suffering.
= So I was reluctant to share how happy a was feeling in those years. & then 2018 was particularly devastating for me & 2019 was very difficult as well. = So: I've had some happy years in the course of my life & I've had some years that weren't so happy.
# But I know that I know that God is greater than everything I'm going thru. God is greater || bigger || in control. There are a lot of things in life that you & I cannot control: Especially other people. What they do & say!
= The only person I can control is myself & that is true for you too. # But Ultimately God is in control. Nothing is going to happen apart from His Will. Not a Single Sparrow falls to the earth without His consent. God is in control. = Our God Who Is filled with Grace & Truth. We can believe || rest in || rejoice in that!
Let Us Pray, Lord, There is a lot of evil in the world but I know that is not you! That was not you & that is not you! We are the ones (Humanity) who allowed evil into this world. Humanity allowed evil & violence of every kind into this world! Not You O Lord. As the Scriptures say You are full of Grace. You are Love & in You there is no darkness at all. Please form in us a beautiful image of You. Help us to understand in our hearts Who you really are. Your goodness. Your Nature. Your good intentions for this world. Help us to let go of any frustrations || disappointments || misconceptions we might have about you! You are bigger than our anger || sin.
Show us your glory O Lord & lead us in the path of righteousness for your names' sake. Help us Always Not to rejoice in ourselves But to Rejoice in You ? Our Creator & Redeemer & Savior & King.
Filled with an Overwhelming love for each one of us, We let go of any negative || harmful feelings we might have about You & We invite the healing power of The Holy Spirit to fill this place. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Please visit my website at antiChristRevealed.info || antiChristRevealed.org To find out more of what God is teaching me. & May the Lord Jesus Christ keep you in His peace.
